What is Truth?

What is Truth?

We read in John 18:37-38 Then Pilate said to Jesus, “What is truth?” “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Today with the situations that we face - it is difficult to know what is true and what is false. There is so much about Fake News, with it's spins and twists. You see a headline that shocks you into reading it, then you realize they have given you nothing but melted ice and a vapor.   The statics are being padded to show large numbers of people with the virus when the truth is for the medical profession and others to profit financially.

Edgar Allen Poe wrote in one of his stories:  Believe nothing you hear, and only half of what you see.  I think this could apply to the News and media of today.

Early in the Bible Satan told Eve a half truth, and she made a decision to accept his enticing words. One sin can cause a collision that effects many and it is difficult to rectify. 

Today we will remember some of the Bible events where people did not tell the truth.

Genesis chapter 20 tells the story of Abraham asking his wife Sarah to lie and say she was his sister because she was very beautiful and he feared someone might kill him in order to take her. King Abimelech was innocent and thinking all was well, took her into his harem; but God appeared to him in a dream and said, “You and your household are all dead men because she is another man's wife.” God further warned the king to release her at once - - and that Abraham was a prophet from God.

So Abimelech took a thousand pieces of silver, sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.  Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

1 Samuel chapter 28 tells us of King Saul who disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went at night to the home at of a woman who was a medium, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?” At first the women did not recognize the king and was happy to oblige, but soon she was afraid for her life when she realized who this was.

"Be sure your sin will find you out," is what my mother always said to me as she quoted; Numbers 32:23

We will review one other Bible happening that involved Tamar who disguised herself so no one would recognize her.

Found in Genesis chapter 38 is the story of Tamar whose husband was wicked and God caused his death, but she was childless.   Her Father-in-law Judah, told his second son to take her as his wife and raise up children for his dead brother. The son disobeyed and God was angry with him and also caused his death. Judah told her the last son was still a boy and to wait until he was grown.  He was actually worried his last son might also experience death, so he wanted her to wait; but Tamar felt betrayed.

As time passed and she knew Judah was going to shear his sheep so she removed her widows clothes and dressed herself as a harlot with a veil over her face and sat by the road. Judah was still grieving over the loss of his wife and two sons, so when he saw her, he was tempted and spoke to her about an arrangement. She asked what will you give me, and he replied a young goat. She answered, I will need to hold something as a pledge until you give me the goat, so let it be your signet ring and your staff.

And it was so and their union caused her to become pregnant. Later when Judah sent his servant with the goat she could not be found. The servant asked where is the harlot who sits by the road? The people said there is no harlot there. Some months later when it became obvious Tamar was pregnant; she was branded as a whore, and condemned by the unsuspecting Judah to be burned to death. Hastely she sent word, do you recognize these items, it is by this man that I am with child. The truth dawned and Judah exclaimed, she is more righteous than I am and he left her alone. His impulsive behavior caused him much embarrassment.

Oh what fools we mortals be when we practice to lie and deceive.

As we pray over our city, State, and Nation, we realize there is much going on that is hidden, but God is the one who reveals secrets.  He knows our hearts and calls those without Him to come to him and be saved from all that is false and unreal.

Jesus said, I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE and He calls for our citizens to come to Him to be saved and not lost. The reality of Hell is that it is a terrible place prepared for the devil and his angels, but God does not desire anyone to go there. That is why He sent Jesus to save us from our sins. Heaven is a true and real place prepared for all who will receive Jesus into their lives.

Our citizens might be running from God, but they cannot hide; because He knows everything about us and them.   Let us make our prayerful declarations that our citizens will be open to heed the call of Jesus the good shepherd to enter His kingdom.